Flowers and Birds
Li Shan
Qing Dynasty
- MEDIUM:Ink and color on paper
- FORMATS:Album of ten leaves
- DIMENSIONS:Height 28.0 cm; Width 37.5 cm
Introduction
Painted when Li Shan was forty-nine, during his second departure from the imperial court, this album reveals a transformation in his style. His mastery of xieyi, a freehand brushwork, was by then fully mature, and within his unrestrained strokes, he captured what he called tianqu (the natural charm). The paintings flow with vigour and ease.
Beyond auspicious motifs such as magpies heralding joyful news, lovebirds symbolizing marital bliss, and fish frolicking among water plants, Li Shan included scenes from daily life, including humble flowers, seasonal fruits and vegetables, and even a kettle set upon a blazing fire. Such imagery exudes a warm domestic atmosphere.
He once inscribed a poem: “Taro and wild rice stems, their mild flavours a joy; even the finest dishes from the imperial kitchens cannot compare.” For him, the simplest fare surpassed royal delicacies, just as commonplace subjects could rival the elegance of plum, orchid, or bamboo — for in his hands, they carried the same depth of feeling and uncommon delight.
